Latest news with #ClareCountyCouncil
Irish Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
New bridge linking Clare and Tipperary will ‘improve life' for residents
A NEW bridge linking counties Clare and Tipperary is set to bring beneftis to residents in both counties. Sisk have completed work on the Killaloe Bypass, which was formally opened by Ireland's Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien this week. The bridge, known as the Brian Ború Bridge, took the Irish construction firm two and a half years to complete. Located in the twin towns of Killaloe in Co. Clare and in Ballina, Co. Tipperary, on opposite sides of the River Shannon, it is the first new vehicular bridge to be built across the river in more than three decades. It is part of an €88m package of works carried out by Sisk which is expected to 'greatly improve the quality of life" for residents of both towns. The alternative route will take through traffic and HGVs out of both town centres, which will 'reduce congestion, protect both heritage areas, and provide a much-needed boost to the local economy and the region's tourism sector' according to Sisk. 'Sisk is delighted to have completed this vital new infrastructure improvement project which is a significant upgrade to the current roads network in both County Clare and County Tipperary,' Steven McGee, Sisk's Chief Operating Officer for Ireland and UK, said. 'Connectivity has been enhanced through the construction of the western bypass for Killaloe/Ballina, a new bridge crossing over the River Shannon, and the upgrade of the existing R494 regional road,' he added. 'This project is an excellent example of real collaboration between our client, site team, plus our in-house engineering services team and key supply chain partners.' Minister O'Brien said the 'transformative road project' will 'strengthen the connection between communities in Clare and Tipperary'. 'With approximately €88m million in funding allocated by my department, this represents a significant Government investment in regional infrastructure and underscores our ongoing commitment to investing in and modernising Ireland's road network,' he said. 'Road safety remains a key priority in all our infrastructure projects,' he added. 'The completion of the Killaloe Bypass will significantly enhance safety and efficiency for all road users. 'The inclusion of dedicated pedestrian and cycling facilities not only improves safety but also encourages more sustainable, active travel along this vital corridor.' Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Councillor Alan O'Callaghan says the 'need' for the bridge has been evident for 'many years'. 'Congestion on both sides of the river led to long tailbacks causing significant pollution and poor air quality from standing traffic,' he explained. 'The daily frustration from 7,000 vehicles a day crossing the old single lane bridge cannot be overestimated, with road safety also an issue due to the lack of segregation between pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles. 'But today all that will change. From this evening tail backs will hopefully be a thing of the past, and journey times will be significantly reduced, enhancing connectivity and convenience for all.' Councillor Declan Burgess, the Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council, said the bridge's opening was an 'historic day for the people of Ballina and Killaloe'. 'There can be no stronger symbol of the connection between the twin towns than Brian Boru, celebrated equally on both sides of the river,' he explained. 'The finished scheme will remove traffic from the towns and allow them to fulfil their potential for both the existing residents and the many tourists that will be attracted to the area. 'This is a proud day for all of the people of Clare and Tipperary, and the twin towns can look forward to a bright future together.'
Sunday World
27-05-2025
- Sunday World
Canadian tourist amongst women killed in weekend of road fatalities
The woman was allegedly cycling with a tour group when she was involved in a collision with a tractor Any witnesses to the crash are urged to contact gardai (PA) It is understood that a Canadian tourist is amongst the women who lost their lives on Irish roads over the weekend. The woman, aged in her 70s, was allegedly cycling with a tour group when she was involved in a collision with a tractor in Toonagh, Tulla, on Saturday, May 24. The woman has not yet been named, but the Sunday World understands she was on holidays in Ireland as part of a cycling group touring County Clare. Councillor Mary Howard, Leas Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, said the County was celebrating the lack of road deaths so far this year when tragedy struck. 'On Friday we were kind of clapping ourselves on the back, saying we had no road deaths – you'd get a chill when you think about it,' Cllr Howard said. 'This woman came to Ireland on holidays, she was enjoying her vacation. This is a nightmare for her family and friends and the rest of the tour group, I can imagine. 'My thoughts and prayers go to her family and her friends who were here with her. There are truly no words.' Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene following report of the collision, which occurred on the L3180 at approximately 12.45pm. The woman was pronounced deceased at the scene and her body was removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick. This fatality marks the first death on Clare roads this year. Investigations are ongoing.
BreakingNews.ie
26-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Council gives green light for €5m Clare GAA Centre of Excellence
Clare County Council has granted planning permission to €5 million plans by senior All-Ireland winning hurlers, Clare to expand and redevelop the county's GAA Centre of Excellence. The planners have given the ambitious plans to unearth the next Tony Kelly or Shane O'Donnell the green light on condition that a range of measures are put in place to safeguard the Lesser Horseshoe Bat. Advertisement The project last November benefited from €3.2 million in state funding from the Government's Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund to develop the Centre of Excellence at Caherloghan near the east Clare village of Tulla. The scheme for the county's elite hurlers and footballers - includes the construction of a 1-2 storey extension to the existing Clare GAA Centre of Excellence building accommodating additional player welfare facilities including new dressing rooms, a gymnasium, dining and administrative areas. It also includes two new full length playing pitches, the construction of a new all-weather synthetic playing pitch, the construction of a new hurling 'ball-wall' and the construction of a new covered spectator stand serving Pitch 3. The Council has attached the bat protection conditions as the Centre of Excellence expansion proposal lies close to Newgrove House which is a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) due to the presence of the Lesser Horseshoe Bat. Advertisement According to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Newgrove House SAC 'is considered to be of international importance' due to the presence of the tiny bat. The Lesser Horseshoe Bat is one of the world's smallest bats, weighing only 5 to 9 grams with a wingspan of 194-254mm and a body length of 35 to 45 mm and is afforded legal protection through the EU Habitats Directive. The measures include specialist outdoor lighting at the expanded centre of excellence and a 10pm curfew on lighting each day. Bat boxes are to be erected at the edge of the site while additional tree planting to the east of Pitch 2 is expected to provide some additional foraging for bats. Advertisement A bat activity survey carried out on behalf of Clare GAA found that four species of bat including the Lesser Horseshoe Bat were detected on the eastern edge of the site. An ecological assessment commissioned by Clare GAA and lodged with the planning application stated that the mitigation measures will ensure that no adverse impacts will occur which could affect the integrity of the Newgrove House SAC and no adverse impacts are predicted against the conservation objectives of the Lesser Horseshoe Bat. However, it remains to be seen if the mitigation measures go far enough for the Department of Heritage which does have the option of appealing the grant of permission to An Bord Pleanála. In a submission to the Council at the end of last month the Department told the council that there can be no doubts or lacunae regarding what is required for mitigation measures proposed. No third-party objections are made against the proposed scheme.
Irish Examiner
26-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Canadian tourist killed in Clare collision among four women who died on the roads over the weekend
A Canadian tourist was among the four women who lost their lives in road collisions across the country over the weekend. The woman, who was in her 70s, had been cycling with a group when she was in a collision with a tractor at Toonagh, Tulla, on Saturday afternoon. She has not yet been named but is understood to have travelled to Ireland as part of a cycling group touring Clare. Cllr Mary Howard, a Fine Gael councillor with Clare County Council, said her death was the first road fatality in Clare this year. 'We send our condolences to her family in Canada and to her colleagues who were with her on their vacation," she said. "It is a horrendous way for a holiday to turn out.' Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene following report of the collision, involving a tractor and a bicycle, which occurred on the L3180 at about 12.45pm on Saturday. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and her body was removed for an autopsy at University Hospital Limerick. Investigations are also continuing into the death of a woman in her 20s in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. The woman, who has also not yet been named, died after she was also hit by a car, on the R702 in Curraghgraigue, Enniscorthy, at about 3pm on Saturday. She was removed to Wexford General Hospital, where she later died. The driver of the car, a man in his 20s, received a medical assessment at the scene. Meanwhile, the woman who died after being hit by a car on Saturday evening in Ashbourne, Co Meath, has been named locally. She was Theresa Morgan. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made. In Donegal, the community of Lifford is in mourning for 82-year-old Bernie Cranley. Ms Cranley was the driver of a silver Toyota Vitz that was involved in a collision with a blue Suzuki Vitara over the weekend. The incident took place on the Mellon Road between Omagh and Newtownstewart near the Ulster American Folk Park at about 12.30pm on Saturday. The other driver, a woman in her 70s, was taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment for serious injuries. PSNI inspector Cherith Adair, from the collision investigation unit, said: 'Our inquiries are ongoing into the circumstances of the collision, and we would like to hear from witnesses or anyone who may have captured dash-cam footage which could assist us.' There have been 65 fatalities in 62 collisions on Irish roads so far this year. The number has fallen from 63 fatalities in 68 collisions in the same period last year.
Irish Independent
22-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Green light for Clare housing development as council gives go-ahead
An application by Ennis company Keogh Homes LTD has been been granted approval by Clare County Council to build a housing estate in the village of Corofin consisting of 28 homes. The plans would see the construction of 14 semi-detached houses and 14 duplex units, consisting of 19 two-bed units, 7 three-bed properties and 2 four-bed dwellings. The application also makes provision for 45 parking spaces, while a planning agreement has also been confirmed that at least three to six of the homes will be used for social or affordable housing. The plans were approved on May 20 with Clare County Council giving a total of 25 conditions. In their decision, the council stipulated that changes to the housing plans would need to be carried out to reduce impact on the visual amenity of the area. A condition was also added to ensure that lighting plans adhered to Bat Conservation Ireland Guidelines in the interest of protecting the bats. They added that building works only be carried out on weekdays from 8am to 7pm and Saturdays from 8am to 2pm.
